This version of the fearless predictions will be brief, since the people who bring you this blog are in Las Vegas (BABY!) and will be watching this week's Sprint Cup race from one of the various sports books available here.
Here's hoping our luck at the blackjack table is better than our luck so far with these predictions for NASCAR drivers who will finish in the top 10. Once again, last week's forecasts went a pitiful 1-3, leaving us with a season record of 2-8. But here come another set of predictions anyway.
One from the front: We're going with someone who always seems to do well at tracks the size of Auto Club Speedway. Tony Stewart starts in fifth place and should be able to at least hold on to that spot.
One from the back: It's not the strongest of fields this week, in part because only 43 cars signed up for this race, so everybody qualified. When in doubt, you go with a former Sprint Cup champion. And we'll go with Bobby Labonte, who starts 34th.
Two from the middle: Lots of drivers to choose from here. Our choices are the current points leader, Kurt Busch, who starts 23rd, and Jimmie Johnson, who starts 16th and owns the Fontana track.
Enjoy the race, everybody. We'll be back with results.
Showing posts with label Fontana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fontana. Show all posts
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
The People's Choice - Fontana
Some people are getting ready to watch college kids compete for spots in the Final Four. Some are getting ready for the start of baseball season, the only season that holds a candle to NASCAR's in terms of length. But we at the People's Pigskin are thanking you, the Internet, for coming out again in droves to vote on our lineup. Here are the drivers that will represent the People's Pitstop this weekend in Fontana, California.
A List: The winner of this poll is someone who was winning back when Charlie Sheen was just a guy in a troubled marriage. Five-time defending Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson took this poll. He and Carl Edwards will compete during qualifying for a chance to start for the Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team on Sunday.
B List: Don't let people tell you stock car racing is strictly for Americans. This poll was won by Colombia's Juan Pablo Montoya. The runners-up were some usual suspects (Ryan Newman and Kasey Kahne), but the final spot went to a Tasmanian named Marcos Ambrose. The two drivers who qualify the best will start.
C List: UPS representative David Ragan won this poll, followed by Bobby Labonte.
Thanks once again for voting. The results appear below, and a new poll on rule changes is available for your votes now.We'll try to update this post once the qualifying session is over.
UPDATED 9:45 P.M. You guys are good. And so is Montoya, who took the pole and will earn us a 10-point bonus. He's joined in the starting lineup by Ragan (who qualified 6th), Newman (9th) and Johnson (16th).
[polldaddy poll=4759885] [polldaddy poll=4759909] [polldaddy poll=4759927]
A List: The winner of this poll is someone who was winning back when Charlie Sheen was just a guy in a troubled marriage. Five-time defending Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson took this poll. He and Carl Edwards will compete during qualifying for a chance to start for the Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team on Sunday.
B List: Don't let people tell you stock car racing is strictly for Americans. This poll was won by Colombia's Juan Pablo Montoya. The runners-up were some usual suspects (Ryan Newman and Kasey Kahne), but the final spot went to a Tasmanian named Marcos Ambrose. The two drivers who qualify the best will start.
C List: UPS representative David Ragan won this poll, followed by Bobby Labonte.
Thanks once again for voting. The results appear below, and a new poll on rule changes is available for your votes now.
UPDATED 9:45 P.M. You guys are good. And so is Montoya, who took the pole and will earn us a 10-point bonus. He's joined in the starting lineup by Ragan (who qualified 6th), Newman (9th) and Johnson (16th).
[polldaddy poll=4759885] [polldaddy poll=4759909] [polldaddy poll=4759927]
Thursday, March 24, 2011
The Not-So-Golden Rules
In addition to helmets and short fuses, one thing that both NASCAR and the National Football League have in common right now are rule changes.
And in both cases, the changes have more than a few critics.
First, let's deal with the NFL (while there still is one). The owners approved a few rule alterations this week. One of those changes is to bring kickoffs back to the 35-yard line. The idea is that giving the kicker 5 fewer yards of playing area will produce more touchbacks. And who doesn't love the idea of watching more touchbacks and fewer plays like this.
No matter which NFL team you follow, you can find a coach who doesn't like the change. And it's not hard to understand why. The goal might be keeping players safe, but those coaches who don't simply surrender to the urge to kick balls out of the end zone will simply tell the kicker to shorten the kick and try to pin the receiver deep. Players will still be injured, as they have been since the pigskin really WAS made from pig.
Now for the NASCAR changes. The revamp that France & Co. approved to their scoring system is summarized here. I say "summarized" because if the new system had any more 'if's, 'and's or 'but's, it would be a grammar textbook.
NASCAR tells us that the system is supposed to emphasize winning. That, of course, explains why the current points leader has no wins and only one top five finish so far this season. And please note that the wild card spots are available only to drivers who finish in the top 20. That would mean that if the Chase were to start right now, one of the four drivers who have won a race so far this season would not be in NASCAR's version of the playoffs.
Oh, and did I mention that the driver in question -- the one currently sitting 43rd in the new and/or improved points system -- won the alleged Super Bowl of NASCAR?
By the way, you still have a couple of hours to vote on the lineup polls on the right side of this page. Your votes, and your votes alone, will determine which drivers will represent the People's Pitstop at Sunday's NASCAR race in Fontana, California.
We'll be back with the results.
And in both cases, the changes have more than a few critics.
First, let's deal with the NFL (while there still is one). The owners approved a few rule alterations this week. One of those changes is to bring kickoffs back to the 35-yard line. The idea is that giving the kicker 5 fewer yards of playing area will produce more touchbacks. And who doesn't love the idea of watching more touchbacks and fewer plays like this.
No matter which NFL team you follow, you can find a coach who doesn't like the change. And it's not hard to understand why. The goal might be keeping players safe, but those coaches who don't simply surrender to the urge to kick balls out of the end zone will simply tell the kicker to shorten the kick and try to pin the receiver deep. Players will still be injured, as they have been since the pigskin really WAS made from pig.
Now for the NASCAR changes. The revamp that France & Co. approved to their scoring system is summarized here. I say "summarized" because if the new system had any more 'if's, 'and's or 'but's, it would be a grammar textbook.
NASCAR tells us that the system is supposed to emphasize winning. That, of course, explains why the current points leader has no wins and only one top five finish so far this season. And please note that the wild card spots are available only to drivers who finish in the top 20. That would mean that if the Chase were to start right now, one of the four drivers who have won a race so far this season would not be in NASCAR's version of the playoffs.
Oh, and did I mention that the driver in question -- the one currently sitting 43rd in the new and/or improved points system -- won the alleged Super Bowl of NASCAR?
By the way, you still have a couple of hours to vote on the lineup polls on the right side of this page. Your votes, and your votes alone, will determine which drivers will represent the People's Pitstop at Sunday's NASCAR race in Fontana, California.
We'll be back with the results.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Back to the Middle
The People's Pitstop hasn't exactly reached Charlie Sheen's "winning" territory yet, but we're getting there.
The Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team racked up 329 points during Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway. That improved our overall score to 983 and raised us 2 spots, to 7th out of 14, in the prestigious 9beersfantasysportstavern group on Yahoo Sports.
Here are scoring details.
Kyle Busch: Started 12th, finished 1st, 153 laps led and 100 fantasy points. You think it's safe to say Kyle is comfortable with Bristol, or would that be jumping the gun?
Martin Truex Jr.: Started 8th, finished 17th, 63 laps led and 68 fantasy points. Not only is Truex in the top 10 in driver points, but he's also winning awards you never knew existed.
Mark Martin: Started 9th, finished 12th and 68 fantasy points. Martin was our only starting driver who did not lead a lap.
Paul Menard: Started 4th, finished 5th, 35 laps led and 93 fantasy points. You know you're having a strong season when NASCAR.com writers are naming months after you.
Perhaps the most impressive achievement for the People's Pitstop this week was that, despite racing on one of the shortest tracks on the NASCAR circuit, all our starters managed to keep themselves on the lead lap.
Will that be the case again when NASCAR takes its act to Fontana, California? Only you, the Internet, can make that call. The polls are now open and will stay open until Thursday night. The results of the weekend poll appear below. Please feel free to exercise your voting rights now.
[polldaddy poll=4739447]
The Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team racked up 329 points during Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway. That improved our overall score to 983 and raised us 2 spots, to 7th out of 14, in the prestigious 9beersfantasysportstavern group on Yahoo Sports.
Here are scoring details.
Kyle Busch: Started 12th, finished 1st, 153 laps led and 100 fantasy points. You think it's safe to say Kyle is comfortable with Bristol, or would that be jumping the gun?
Martin Truex Jr.: Started 8th, finished 17th, 63 laps led and 68 fantasy points. Not only is Truex in the top 10 in driver points, but he's also winning awards you never knew existed.
Mark Martin: Started 9th, finished 12th and 68 fantasy points. Martin was our only starting driver who did not lead a lap.
Paul Menard: Started 4th, finished 5th, 35 laps led and 93 fantasy points. You know you're having a strong season when NASCAR.com writers are naming months after you.
Perhaps the most impressive achievement for the People's Pitstop this week was that, despite racing on one of the shortest tracks on the NASCAR circuit, all our starters managed to keep themselves on the lead lap.
Will that be the case again when NASCAR takes its act to Fontana, California? Only you, the Internet, can make that call. The polls are now open and will stay open until Thursday night. The results of the weekend poll appear below. Please feel free to exercise your voting rights now.
[polldaddy poll=4739447]
Monday, October 11, 2010
First, the Racing Results
We'll detail the results of our fantasy football weekend on Tuesday morning, but while America waits for Mother Nature to deem Monday Night Football ready to start, let's take a look at something sunny: the weekend results for the People's Pitstop.
The Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team scored 326 points, one of the highest totals of the season, during Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Auto Club Speedway. The season total is now 8,066, good enough for 49,853rd overall on Yahoo Sports and lifting us 9 spots, to 65th, in the Fans of From the Marbles league.
This week's total includes 10 points for pole-qualifying Jamie McMurray and 3 for 3rd-qualifying Paul Menard. Here's how we got the rest.
Jimmie Johnson: Started 8th, finished 3rd, 22 laps led and 96 fantasy points, including 10 for leading a lap. Johnson, who now seems to be cruising to a fifth straight Sprint Cup, ran his last race for us this season. Surprisingly, he won only two races for us as a starter (in Las Vegas and Dover).
Ryan Newman: Started 14th, finished 5th and 82 fantasy points. Don't look now, but Newman has six top 10 finishes in his last seven races.
Kasey Kahne: Started 5th, finished 4th and 84 fantasy points. As this chart shows, Kahne ran in the top 10 the majority of the race, but he never found the extra speed that would have allowed him to lead a lap.
A.J. Allmendinger: Started 30th, finished 19th and 54 fantasy points. Allmendinger also drove his last race for the People's Pitstop this season. Somehow, you have to think fewer people will miss him in the polls.
Speaking of polls, the new polls are up. The NASCAR polls will close Thursday night, while the fantasy football polls (located below the NASCAR ones) will close Sunday morning. Please vote now. We'll be back with the football results.
The Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team scored 326 points, one of the highest totals of the season, during Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Auto Club Speedway. The season total is now 8,066, good enough for 49,853rd overall on Yahoo Sports and lifting us 9 spots, to 65th, in the Fans of From the Marbles league.
This week's total includes 10 points for pole-qualifying Jamie McMurray and 3 for 3rd-qualifying Paul Menard. Here's how we got the rest.
Jimmie Johnson: Started 8th, finished 3rd, 22 laps led and 96 fantasy points, including 10 for leading a lap. Johnson, who now seems to be cruising to a fifth straight Sprint Cup, ran his last race for us this season. Surprisingly, he won only two races for us as a starter (in Las Vegas and Dover).
Ryan Newman: Started 14th, finished 5th and 82 fantasy points. Don't look now, but Newman has six top 10 finishes in his last seven races.
Kasey Kahne: Started 5th, finished 4th and 84 fantasy points. As this chart shows, Kahne ran in the top 10 the majority of the race, but he never found the extra speed that would have allowed him to lead a lap.
A.J. Allmendinger: Started 30th, finished 19th and 54 fantasy points. Allmendinger also drove his last race for the People's Pitstop this season. Somehow, you have to think fewer people will miss him in the polls.
Speaking of polls, the new polls are up. The NASCAR polls will close Thursday night, while the fantasy football polls (located below the NASCAR ones) will close Sunday morning. Please vote now. We'll be back with the football results.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Fearless NASCAR Predictions - Fontana
Now that you've had a morning (and, for most of the country, an early afternoon) to ponder our fantasy football predictions, it's time to challenge your mind with some forecasts for which NASCAR drivers will finish in the top 10 at Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana. Last week's predictions treaded water again by going 5-5, leaving the Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team with a season record of 134-146.
1. Jimmie Johnson. Just stay out of his way.
2. Kasey Kahne. The last driver other than Johnson to win the fall race on this track.
3. Denny Hamlin. The driver who sits only 8 points behind Johnson.
4. Jeff Gordon. At least he's talking about breaking into the win column. That's an important first step, right?
5. Matt Kenseth. In the last five Fontana races, Kenseth has an average finish of 6.2. Among Chase drivers, only Johnson has a better average.
6. Greg Biffle. His victory last week in Kansas keeps his slim Cup hopes alive.
7. Kyle Busch. Sometimes you can find some interesting facts on NASCAR.com. Here's one: Busch has never failed to finish in 12 Fontana races.
8. Kevin Harvick. Check this out: Harvick has finished in the top 10 in 3 of the last 4 races, even though his best start during that span is 20th.
9. Carl Edwards. Of course, Edwards can do Harvick one better. He has 4 top 10 finishes in the last 5 races.
10. David Reutimann. He may not be proud of what he did to Busch, but Reutimann did demonstrate that he won't roll over and play dead just because he's not in the Chase. That's more than enough to earn designation as our medium to long shot.
Once again, make sure you vote on the lineup for the People's Pigskin. We have a tough matchup against the Fighting Amish, and we can use all the input we can get. The polls close Sunday morning. We'll be back with the results.
1. Jimmie Johnson. Just stay out of his way.
2. Kasey Kahne. The last driver other than Johnson to win the fall race on this track.
3. Denny Hamlin. The driver who sits only 8 points behind Johnson.
4. Jeff Gordon. At least he's talking about breaking into the win column. That's an important first step, right?
5. Matt Kenseth. In the last five Fontana races, Kenseth has an average finish of 6.2. Among Chase drivers, only Johnson has a better average.
6. Greg Biffle. His victory last week in Kansas keeps his slim Cup hopes alive.
7. Kyle Busch. Sometimes you can find some interesting facts on NASCAR.com. Here's one: Busch has never failed to finish in 12 Fontana races.
8. Kevin Harvick. Check this out: Harvick has finished in the top 10 in 3 of the last 4 races, even though his best start during that span is 20th.
9. Carl Edwards. Of course, Edwards can do Harvick one better. He has 4 top 10 finishes in the last 5 races.
10. David Reutimann. He may not be proud of what he did to Busch, but Reutimann did demonstrate that he won't roll over and play dead just because he's not in the Chase. That's more than enough to earn designation as our medium to long shot.
Once again, make sure you vote on the lineup for the People's Pigskin. We have a tough matchup against the Fighting Amish, and we can use all the input we can get. The polls close Sunday morning. We'll be back with the results.
Friday, October 8, 2010
The People's Choice - Fontana
Once again, we owe you, the Internet, a debt of gratitude. You came out to vote on the People's Pitstop lineup for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Fontana. Here are the results.
A List. A great run will come to an end as Jimmie Johnson takes the starting spot for the final time this season. Jeff Gordon will watch this one from the bench.
B List. One of the starting spots is settled. It will go to this week's poll winner, Ryan Newman. The other spot will come down to qualifying results and will go to either Kasey Kahne or Joey Logano. Meanwhile, one bench spot goes to Jamie McMurray.
C List. Another clear winner, and another driver appearing for the last time in the starting lineup: A.J. Allmendinger. As you can see below, he ran away with this poll. Paul Menard, one of the many drivers tied for second, will get the bench spot.
This post will be updated as soon as possible after Friday's qualifying session. In the meantime, don't forget to vote on the football polls. We'll be back with some predictions.
UPDATED 9:15 P.M. By qualifying 5th, Kahne earned the starting spot over Logano, who qualified 10th. And even though he won't start for us, McMurray will contribute to our bottom line by earning the pole and giving us a 10-point bonus.
[polldaddy poll=3869475] [polldaddy poll=3869503] [polldaddy poll=3869525]
A List. A great run will come to an end as Jimmie Johnson takes the starting spot for the final time this season. Jeff Gordon will watch this one from the bench.
B List. One of the starting spots is settled. It will go to this week's poll winner, Ryan Newman. The other spot will come down to qualifying results and will go to either Kasey Kahne or Joey Logano. Meanwhile, one bench spot goes to Jamie McMurray.
C List. Another clear winner, and another driver appearing for the last time in the starting lineup: A.J. Allmendinger. As you can see below, he ran away with this poll. Paul Menard, one of the many drivers tied for second, will get the bench spot.
This post will be updated as soon as possible after Friday's qualifying session. In the meantime, don't forget to vote on the football polls. We'll be back with some predictions.
UPDATED 9:15 P.M. By qualifying 5th, Kahne earned the starting spot over Logano, who qualified 10th. And even though he won't start for us, McMurray will contribute to our bottom line by earning the pole and giving us a 10-point bonus.
[polldaddy poll=3869475] [polldaddy poll=3869503] [polldaddy poll=3869525]
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
The People's Facts - Pepsi Max 400
First, a quick football update. You, the Internet, decided to claim Matt Bryant off waivers to fill the kicker spot in the People's Pigskin roster. He's ready to face the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, and the Pigskin is that much closer to being ready to play the Fighting Amish. But we still need your help (and your votes) to determine the rest of our lineup.
We also need your help picking the People's Pitstop lineup for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race. Here is some information that may or may not help you make your selections.
Track basics: Auto Club Speedway, a 2-mile oval in Fontana, California, is the second-longest track currently used in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. (Only Talladega is longer.)
Last time we were here: In Feburary, a week after the Daytona 500, Jimmie Johnson found Victory Lane for the first time this season. The People's Pitstop left him on the bench and suffered the consequences. The team picked up only 217 points, one of the worst results of the season.
Other recent winners: Insert your favorite conspiracy theory here, but Johnson has won three straight fall races at Fontana. The last driver other than Johnson to win a fall race here was Kasey Kahne in 2006.
Who wins here a lot: Take a wild guess who leads active NASCAR drivers with 5 victories on this track. Here's a hint: His co-owner (along with Matt Kenseth) are runners-up with 3 wins apiece.
Why are we here again? It's not because of history; Fontana has only been hosting NASCAR races since 1997. And it's certainly not because this track is terribly popular with racing fans. Furthermore, it's not because the races are guaranteed sellouts. Here's one possibility. Take a look at this list of NASCAR drivers. Quite a few of them would consider Fontana their "home track," including Johnson and Kevin Harvick. Maybe Delanna has even more pull than we all thought.
Want to know more about this race? Click here to download a Yahoo Sports preview. But only after you've voted in our polls. Thanks.
[polldaddy poll=3869458]
We also need your help picking the People's Pitstop lineup for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race. Here is some information that may or may not help you make your selections.
Track basics: Auto Club Speedway, a 2-mile oval in Fontana, California, is the second-longest track currently used in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. (Only Talladega is longer.)
Last time we were here: In Feburary, a week after the Daytona 500, Jimmie Johnson found Victory Lane for the first time this season. The People's Pitstop left him on the bench and suffered the consequences. The team picked up only 217 points, one of the worst results of the season.
Other recent winners: Insert your favorite conspiracy theory here, but Johnson has won three straight fall races at Fontana. The last driver other than Johnson to win a fall race here was Kasey Kahne in 2006.
Who wins here a lot: Take a wild guess who leads active NASCAR drivers with 5 victories on this track. Here's a hint: His co-owner (along with Matt Kenseth) are runners-up with 3 wins apiece.
Why are we here again? It's not because of history; Fontana has only been hosting NASCAR races since 1997. And it's certainly not because this track is terribly popular with racing fans. Furthermore, it's not because the races are guaranteed sellouts. Here's one possibility. Take a look at this list of NASCAR drivers. Quite a few of them would consider Fontana their "home track," including Johnson and Kevin Harvick. Maybe Delanna has even more pull than we all thought.
Want to know more about this race? Click here to download a Yahoo Sports preview. But only after you've voted in our polls. Thanks.
[polldaddy poll=3869458]
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